The New Orleans Saints could go a number of directions with the eighth pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
The Saints went into last year's draft searching for a quarterback due to Derek Carr's uncertain status from a shoulder injury.
They might have found one in Tyler Shough, which eliminates at least one position with their top pick.
The Saints addressed guard, running back, linebacker, tight end and punter with this year's top free agency signings but lost slot cornerback Alontae Taylor to the Tennessee Titans. The team still has needs on both sides of the ball that they'll look to fill with their eight picks.
Will the Saints draft for need or look for the best player available? Despite signing running back Travis Etienne could they take a player like Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love if he's available, or do they home in on a specific position?
On Tuesday, draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah put his backing behind a few specific players for the Saints, saying, "two that I keep coming back to are [Miami defensive end Rueben] Bain and [Arizona State wide receiver] Jordyn Tyson."
Here's a look at three needs for the Saints based off the current roster and what the team could be looking for when the draft begins on April 23.
Wide receiver
The state of the wide receivers room was fairly dire by the end of the Saints' 2025 season. Shough's final two touchdown passes of the season were to Kevin Austin Jr. and Ronnie Bell, two players who had spent time on the practice squad last year. Such distress was due to injuries and attrition after the Saints parted ways with both WRs Brandin Cooks (Nov. 19) and Rashid Shaheed (Nov. 4).
While the Saints have some receivers with potential, such as Devaughn Vele and Ja'Lynn Polk, they have a No. 1 wideout in Chris Olave and then a big gap to the rest of the room. Polk, a 2024 second-round pick who was acquired via a preseason trade with the New England Patriots, spent 2025 on IR. Vele, acquired from the Denver Broncos, had a successful five-game stretch with Shough at the end of the season but did not finish the last three games due to an injury.
The lack of snaps for the majority of the receivers in the room make this a significant need, although that doesn't mean it's a sure thing the Saints use their top pick on the position or wait until later in the draft.
The Saints haven't taken a wide receiver in the first round since they drafted Olave out of Ohio State with the 11th pick in 2022.